Flower power: The Pak Khlong Talat market

Find oodles of colorful flowers at Bangkok’s flower market. Credit: Irene2005.

By Erin Behan

Get to know Bangkok’s markets and you’ll get to know Bangkok, too. The people, the sights, the smells, the twists and turns — all are an integral part of the Bangkok markets. Of all the markets, Pak Khlong Talat should be considered the most breathtaking. The wholesale flower market, near Chinatown, showcases nearly a mile of flowers: roses, orchids, lilies (you name it, they have it).

The best time to experience the riotous display is late at night — or early morning, depending on your take — around 2 a.m., although it’s open 24 hours. That’s when the flowers arrive and many of the area businesses do their shopping. Anyone can grab a bouquet, although flowers are often sold in bulk, so you might return to your Bangkok hotel with quite a large one.

Whether you want to wade through the sea of flowers and Chinatown sights by yourself — you’ll find the market on Chak Phet Road near the Memorial Bridge — or you want to take a tour, such as the one offered by Bangkok City Discovery Tours, you’ll definitely get to the heart of the city.

While in the neighborhood, you’d be remiss to not wander Yaowarat Chinatown with its many stalls selling food, trinkets and gold. If you can, the best time to visit is during Chinese New Year (Jan. 23, 2012).

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Erin Behan is a freelance writer and editor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., who counts good food, intoxicating drink and adventurous travel among her favorite things.

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